Paper short abstract:

In this paper, I use the data of Afrobarometer to gauge how Benin citizens assess the performance of their local government. I find that how influence of traditional leaders in governance impacts positively on acceptance of their holding seats in their local government councils.

Paper long abstract:

In this paper, I use the data of Afrobarometer (2008) to gauge how Benin citizens assess the performance of their local government. I find that large majorities of the country's citizens disapprove local government council management. For instance, for 78% of Beninese, local councils are doing a bad job in maintaining local roads.

While local councils in Benin are rated negatively, traditional leaders are rated higher along a range of performance criteria. For example, 38% of citizens think that traditional leaders are better listeners than elected local government councilors (26%).

In this piece, I argue that Beninese citizens' acceptance of traditional leaders' involvement in their local government councils depends mainly on their view of traditional leaders' influence on the governance of their local community.

Based on a logit model, I find that how influence of traditional leaders in governance impacts positively on acceptance of their holding seats in their local government councils. Finally, by using propensity score matching method, results suggest citizens should agree to the fact that traditional leaders should have seats on their local council, as long as they appreciate their influence in governance in their local community.